The long cord that surrounded a Venezuelan singer’s body in his own backyard pool still has no explanation from the investigators looking into his death.
Gustavo Enrique Ormo, 45, the singer, composer and pianist who performed as Gus Ormo, remains at the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office with his cause of death pending, after deputies found him face down and surrounded by a long cord in the pool behind his home on Quail Roost Drive in Weston, Fla., on the morning of Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) received a report of a possible drowning around 9 a.m. Deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews found an adult male submerged in the pool and pronounced him dead at the scene.
The agency called the circumstances suspicious and brought in Homicide and Crime Scene detectives.
The Cord No One Will Identify
News footage from the scene showed an apparent rope or cord running from the pool deck into the water. Authorities have given no word on what the object was, or whether it had any connection to the death.
First responders’ radio communications indicate Ormo was “tied up” and found at the bottom of the pool. No authority has publicly identified the cord or rope.
Why the Answers May Take Months
Thomas Steinkamp, chief of investigative services for the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, wrote in an email that “this matter is the subject of an active criminal investigation.” His office said its review is continuing and requires further testing and study, and that establishing how and why Ormo died could take as long as 90 days.
The Brother Who Found Him
A 911 call released Monday, Oct. 19, captures the moment Ormo’s brother found him. The family had tried without success to reach the musician, and their mother grew worried, so the brother drove to the house with their parents.
The brother, speaking in Spanish, told the dispatcher he had arrived about 20 minutes earlier and that he believed Ormo had taken his own life and was in the pool. The dispatcher asked how many people were in the water. Only his brother, he answered. BSO said Monday, Oct. 19, that it would release nothing further while the investigation remains active, and that the medical examiner’s office will determine both the cause and the manner of death.
Maria Antonieta Ormo, the singer’s sister, confirmed his death to CBS Miami on Friday, Oct. 16. She told the station the family knows little about what may have happened and that the days since have been painful for those closest to him. On Instagram, she reposted a news story about her brother’s death with a comment in Spanish that translates to: “My brother only went to a better plane — a dimension of light and music.”
From Maracaibo Ballads to “AGAPE”
Ormo was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and built a large social media following with Spanish-language ballads, among them “100 Suspiros,” one of the songs that drew millions of views. He released “Alquimia,” a nine-track album, in 2025, then changed course in early October 2026 with “AGAPE,” a six-track instrumental piano record featuring two Grammy winners, saxophonist Ed Calle and bassist Carlitos del Puerto.
His last Instagram post, the day before he was found, promoted a project he called “AGAPE Behind the Music.” At a red-carpet event in Aventura in January 2026, he spoke about being happy with his career and about his Venezuelan roots, and he wrote a tribute song to Venezuela built around reconciliation and unity.
Calle, who worked on the final album, told Miami New Times: “Gus was a beautiful person, a dear friend, and a hard-working artist pursuing his dream.” He added that he would miss Ormo’s warmth and creativity, and that the musician had been focused on sharing messages of love and peace.
Public records show Ormo had owned the Quail Roost Drive house for several years. Neighbors said he kept a low profile.
Anyone in a mental health crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.